Capacity Development side sessions during CPM-8 detailed information)

A range of side sessions to develop phytosanitary capacity among IPPC contracting parties will take place during the eighth session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-8, 8-12 April 2013).

More details on these side sessions follows below. Please see the monitors in the FAO building during the week for possible updates to venues or times.

Training on IPPC Participation (3-part series) Location: Mexico Room, D211 Monday 8 April, 17-18:30 Wednesday 10 April, 18-19:30 Thursday 11 April, 13:00-14:30

A three-part series of side sessions will offer an opportunity for hands-on training on the obligations and responsibilities of being an IPPC contracting party. The sessions will take place throughout the week of CPM. The sessions will include modules on planning to arrange the necessary resources to operate as an IPPC contact point and IPP editor, ideas for facilitating internal NPPO engagement, and information management for improved participation in the IPPC processes. All CPM delegates are invited to attend, and participants whose travel to the CPM is supported by the IPPC Trust Fund are especially encouraged to participate. Attendance at all three sessions is recommended but delegates are welcome to attend any session.

Part 1 will cover the international context of the IPPC. Part 2 will cover opportunities, techniques and resources to strengthen participation in a IPPC activities. Part 3 will address opportunities to participate in the standard setting process.

E-learning training materials on trade in forestry products Location: Lebanon Room, D209 Monday 8 April, 17-18:30

The FAO Forestry Department and IPPC Secretariat collaborated to produce an interactive set of training materials to highlight the relevance of the IPPC and its ISPMs in the context of trade in forestry products. These materials are based on the successful Guide to implementation of ISPMs in Forestry which was produced by the FAO Forestry Department with input from the IPPC Secretariat and a range of global experts on forestry and phytosanitary issues. The e-learning materials communicate phytosanitary principles in the context of forestry, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between forestry ministries and NPPOs. These training materials will be available as free, online interactive resources and this session offers an opportunity to become familiar with this newly launched material. The session will demonstrate how to use the e-learning materials and highlight the valuable use of this tool to strengthen communication between NPPOs, forestry officials, and private sector stakeholders involved in trade of forest products.

Meet the Capacity Development Committee (CDC) and learn more about the phytosanitary technical resources page Location: Mexico Room, D211 Tuesday 9 April 13:00-14:30

Contracting parties are invited to meet and greet members of the Capacity Development Committee (CDC). A brief introduction to the structure, rules of procedures and Terms of Reference for the CDC will be presented, followed by an opportunity for contracting parties to ask their regional CDC members questions related to capacity development activities.

The phytosanitary technical resources web page (www.phytosanitary.info) will be showcased, with explanations on how to find and contribute phytosanitary technical resources. Over 200 resources are currently available on the page. Resources on the page include the newly launched Roster of Consultants, project and activities databases, and the e-learning course on Pest Risk Analysis (PRA).

The phytosanitary resources page makes practical resources available to contracting parties and the general public. These are not adopted or endorsed by the CPM but are considered to be useful and relevant resources on phytosanitary issues. This page was developed through IPPC capacity development activities as an output for the support component of the Implementation Review and Support System project and to host products developed under specific projects. This page was designed as a mechanism to make materials on phytosanitary issues available to contracting parties. The IRSS project staff will be available to discuss the linkages between this page and the IRSS Help Desk and other support system activities.

Trade facilitation procedures: single windows, customs unions, etc Location: Iran Room, B116 Tuesday 9 April 18:00-19:30

The Inter-American Bank (IDB), the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Jamaica, and the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), will jointly hold a seminar on trade facilitation procedures including single window approaches and customs unions. The STDF will present the trade facilitation approaches under the frameworks of WTO-SPS and the STDF partnership. The NPPO of Jamaica will present a country case study that highlights best practices and lessons learned from a single window approach. The IDB will present based on experiences of working on customs/single window approaches throughout the Latin America. This is an opportunity to come and share your country s best practices and lessons learned of single window approaches, and to ask questions.

A background document is available at http://www.phytosanitary.info/node/1565

Seminar on the emerging pest: Banana Bunchy Top Virus. Location: Mexico Room, D211 Wednesday 10 April 13:00-14:30

In collaboration with the FAO Regional Office in Africa and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) a seminar will be held Banana Bunchy Top Virus. The seminar will discuss the current state of knowledge on BBTD and importance of cohesive action against this trans-boundary invasive disease, classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a major threat to banana biodiversity; and how lack of such an action can result in severe damage to banana systems, also challenged by the climate change effects.Contracting parties are welcome to participate and to have a fruitful discussion after the seminar given and to discuss issues related to other emerging pests.